-
Well, you've read the notes, the notes were stirring, and now it is time for you to post until the stirring cows come home.
-
And the word of the day is: VIDELICIT!
-
And now - Dino at the piano.
-
All right, everyone - LIMBO.
-
Very interested to see the CD lists. My most played CD of the year is Philippe Rombi's deliriously beautiful score to Francois Ozon's Angel.
-
Will we never get to page two?
-
bk - I got the email about the new release. Thank you for that. However, I have not been able to get into the film score thing. That's all I can say about that.
-
That's perfectly fine.
-
I'm tired but not quite ready to go to sleep just yet.
-
Topic of the Day: I got a lot of CDs this year, even though some had been released before 2008:
The Story So Far... (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EKH09E)
Evening Primrose (http://www.kritzerland.com/Evening.html) (the complete TV soundtrack)
Wicked (http://www.soundofmusic-shop.de/CD_WICKED_-_Original_Japan_Cast_2008_English.html) (the original Japanese cast recording)
Boscos Endins (http://www.soundofmusic-shop.de/CD_INTO_THE_WOODS_-_Original__Spain_Cast_2008.html) (the Spanish cast recording of Into the Woods)
For Your Consideration (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017V8PL2) (comedy CD by Kathy Griffin...which HAS been nominated for a Grammy!)
In the Heights (http://www.amazon.com/In-The-Heights/dp/B0016CGNZM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1230022260&sr=1-1) (original Broadway cast recording)
Life in Cartoon Motion (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NA2776) (by Mika)
South Pacific (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017I1G0W) (the new Broadway cast)
Reefer Madness! (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G7IDDW) (the TV soundtrack)
A Christmas Carol/A Child Is Born (http://www.kritzerland.com/Hermann.html) (scores by Bernard Hermann)
Honorable Mentions:
Play It Cool (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H30MDU): the original Los Angeles cast recording...I like this a lot!
The Two Svengalis (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000G5QZXK) (the original cast recording with Fred Barton and Toni DiBuono)
Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ZOVQ5E) (the 25th anniversary edition)
;D
-
And those are just what I can remember. I have more CDs at work and will look through those, tomorrow. :)
-
And now...to bed.
Good night, all.
-
Good night, DR George! Sweet dreams!!!
-
Enjoyed your video, DR FJL! :)
-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to former/E&T DR William F. Orr!
-
Happy birthday to dear WFO!
-
Most of our grocery stores have had self-checkout lanes for several years. But this is new:
The "Scan-IT" system. As you enter the store, you scan your discount card at a little kiosk and pick up a small hand-held scanner and some bags. As you shop, you scan each item as you put it into your bags. Then, at the checkout, you scan your card again, return the scanner, and pay - your order is already totaled.
Interesting, and if everyone adapts to it, a real time-saver at the checkout line!!!
-
Glad that you are enjoying your well-deserved time off, DR Ben! :)
-
CHRISTMAS CAKE-SPLOSION, 2008:
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wGr8njEWjtI/SUpwUGNzElI/AAAAAAAABV0/rYrXLJkRBAQ/s400/Jamie+Kath+H+-+ow+-+seasons+greetings.JPG)
[There is a cake under there, somewhere.... :)
-
bk, I think you should definitely have the "OH OH OH" cupcakes at your Christmas Eve "do"!!!! :D
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wGr8njEWjtI/SU3WTcrh2PI/AAAAAAAABX8/NVGkdgJ1BZ0/s400/Brian+M+.+ow+.+oh+oh+oh.jpg)
-
Glad to hear about the Return of Freddy.
Great bear photos, DR TOMovOZ....thanks for sharing.
Yes, DR MATTH - I remember when Miss America was an EVENT that everyone looked forward to and watched....did it happen in September? I seem to remember it was around the start of the school year.
-
Happy Birthday to DR WFO!
-
TOD:
Scent of Mystery
Mamma Mia soundtrack
April Love/Tammy and the Bachelor soundtrack
South Pacific revival
Hmmmmmmmmm.....I will wait for some more lists before I do my next five choices.
-
I liked the FISH song, DR FJL.
-
I liked the FISH song
What is it...fish? :D
-
TOD
Evening Primrose
Ask Me Again (Nancy LaMott)
More Simple Songs (Matt Bogart)
Gypsy (Broadway 2008 Cast)
-
Thanks for reading and/or watching, singdaw and Jrand
-
I like to watch.
[ a Being There reference! ;) ]
-
And the word of the day is: VIDELICIT!
And The Song Of The Day Is: NAMELY YOU
-
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DR WILLIAM F ORR
-
Do most people in snowy climates keep their cars in the garage?
Around here most people do not. They use their garage to store garage type things and keep their cars in the driveways.
-
I am so so happy Freddy the cat made it home.
He makes us worry!
-
Good morning, all! Those HHW vibes are working. Outside of my runny nose, I feel quite good this morning.
Jo and I are off for breakfast and a lot of errandsthis morning, so I can't write too much. DR FJL, "Zip" was really wonderful. It may go into my next act.
DR MBarnum, I think the microchip's a great idea. Your pussy is always getting in trouble.
TOD:
SOUTH PACIFIC
EVENING PRIMROSE (Kritzerland)
CHRISTMAS CAROL (Kritzerland)
ENTRE NOUS: OFFENBACH ANTHOLOGY
I know there are more but I'm preoccupied.
-
I knew I forgot something vital!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday Wishes to DR William Orr !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
Most of our grocery stores have had self-checkout lanes for several years. But this is new:
The "Scan-IT" system. As you enter the store, you scan your discount card at a little kiosk and pick up a small hand-held scanner and some bags. As you shop, you scan each item as you put it into your bags. Then, at the checkout, you scan your card again, return the scanner, and pay - your order is already totaled.
Interesting, and if everyone adapts to it, a real time-saver at the checkout line!!!
That is an interesting idea. How do they make sure you scanned everything you put in your bag? What happens if you change your mind after you've already scanned something?
My dad is crazy about always going to the self-scan lane. But i personally find it usually takes me longer to do it myself. So i usually only go to that lane if the store's other lanes are over crowded.
-
Happy Birthday to WFO!!
-
I asked my niece last night if she minded if i made the fudge without her. She said she did.
Even though she's only 3 and probably wouldn't call me on it, if i say i'm going to do something with her i don't like to just do it without her.
Since it will be snowing overnight and during the morning tomorrow the only time i have is tonight at 5pm. So i'll probably go over and do it then!
-
We keep our Rolls, Bentley, and the Jag in three of the garages. The other two, we use for storage.
;)
-
DR Jennifer - according to the brochure I picked up, the scanner has a "remove" option.
It looks like it's pretty much the honor system...bolstered by "random audits," where they come and re-scan all of your purchases at check-out. I presume if you don't pass the audit, your SCAN-ITTM privileges are put in jeopardy.
-
DR Jennifer - according to the brochure I picked up, the scanner has a "remove" option.
It looks like it's pretty much the honor system...bolstered by "random audits," where they come and re-scan all of your purchases at check-out. I presume if you don't pass the audit, your SCAN-ITTM privileges are put in jeopardy.
The honor system seems odd considering that they weigh and check on the scanners now.
I wonder if the places check at the door (here Costco checks everything at the door and Walmart sometimes does).
-
! ! ! ! ! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DR William F. Orr ! ! ! ! !
-
If they re-scan all your stuff doesn't that make the quicker aspect pointless. :)
-
We keep our Rolls, Bentley, and the Jag in three of the garages. The other two, we use for storage.
;)
I wasn't sure if it was just here. But in the past people used their garages more. And then i guess people got more junk. And the cars got bigger and it got harder to fit the car in the garage easily.
But as i said it seems like hardly anybody uses their garages anymore for the cars.
-
Happy Birthday to our very own Wild Bill Orr!
Come back to the Five & Dime, William Orr, William Orr!
-
TOD:
In no particular order:
FUNPLEX -- The B-52's
A CHRISTMAS CAROL --Bernard Herrmann
GYPSY -- Patti Lupone revival
SOUTH PACIFIC -- 2008 revivial
VIVA LA VIDA -- Coldplay
ON THE RADIO LIVE 1956-57 -- Dave Brubeck Quartet
LIVE TRAX Vol 13 -- Dave Matthews Band
THE DISTANT FUTURE -- Flight of the Conchords
OUR BRIGHT FUTURE -- Tracy Chapman
DEAR SCIENCE -- TV On The Radio
-
Dr Elmore - :)
-
Good news about Freddy!
In other animal news, The Little Orange Kitten went to the shelter this morning to be spayed. She will go up for adoption after coming out of surgery, and they expect her to be adopted quickly.
There were lots of dogs at the vet clinic, and it was very noisy and scary.
-
I never seem to listen to CDs any more.
I think that the last CD I bought was the soundtrack from THE BALLAD OF CABLE HOGUE.
-
Hello, everyone.
It's warming up here, may even reach the balmy mid-30's today. I can deal with, ie, dress for, the 30's. When the temperature dips below freezing, well, I feel like the Michelin Man.
-
I will add
EVENING PRIMROSE
-
And the word of the day is: VIDELICIT!
A word to describe Larry's VCRs???
-
I ALMOST bought the David Cook cd.....but sanity intervened.
There were LOTS of creatures stirring at the WalMart this morning....and none of them knew how to park or how to drive their carts.
Also.....WalMart is the place to meet and stand in the aisle and talk to people you haven't seen for a long time and tell them all about your kids and your operation and your ex.
-
And since school is out for the holidays there were lots of kids wandering the aisles without an intention of buying anything.
-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to WILLIAM F ORR!
-
tod:
SCENT OF MYSTERY
-
Also.....WalMart is the place to meet and stand in the aisle and talk to people you haven't seen for a long time and tell them all about your kids and your operation and your ex.
Who'd athunk it??
-
Thanks, Ginny, for the Gmail feedback.
-
I will add
EVENING PRIMROSE
Yep, me too.
Also will add R.E.M. 's ACCERLERATE (which I'm listening to now as I do housework.)
-
Good Morning!! Today should be a day of baking and wrapping and watching/listening to Christmas DVD's as it all happens.
TOD - I'll have to get back to this later....
-
I've not really bought any CDs this year except for "Sweeping The Clouds Away" which is Johnny Crawford and his Dance Band playing twenties and thirties music. It's terrific!
-
Yes, DR MATTH - I remember when Miss America was an EVENT that everyone looked forward to and watched....did it happen in September? I seem to remember it was around the start of the school year.
Yes, September. It was always the unofficial start of the new TV season. The World Series, the Miss America Pageant, and the Academy Awards were always the most watched annual events on TV. (The Super Bowl hadn't been "invented" yet when I was young.)
-
Good morning!
Very cold this morning, but it could not be a more gorgeous day otherwise. Warming into the low 40s here, but into the 50s the rest of the week.
-
Tonight is the first of three "seasonal" get-togethers my mom and I will
endurenjoy over the next three days.
Tonight, I'll get to see my cousin Rick and wife Susan. I look forward to that. Tomorrow evening, we'll go to my cousin Debra's for dinner. Thursday evening, all hell will likely break loose as my aunt told her twin granddaughters and one of her grandsons to stop by for supper/snacks. They are the siblings of the 'bad seed' who ruined Thanksgiving at her house. She says she didn't invite 'him', but where 'they' go, he goes! She hasn't banned him, although she and my uncle hope he won't turn up.
I'm both attracted and repelled by the prospect. Fortunately, we live across the street and can leave any time we want. I've told my mom I don't look forward to it, especially since my cousin Butch probably won't be there and he's the only reason to go since I've have already been around his brother Rick and sister Debra. We'll probably cross the street to say hello (conversation is impossible...mainly because they all distract one another).
Anyway, I'll hope for the best and expect less.
-
I took a closer look at the Criterion box set of Rossellini films I'll be watching and reviewing starting today. These are TV films he made near the end of his career.
The first one is THE AGE OF THE MEDICI, and it's over four hours long! I'll be on this set for several days, I suspect!
-
DR Ron Pulliam, I am always amazed at your stories of holiday drama.
My DH came home yesterday and declared "Christmas is over," and sighed. He's glad to have the next three days off.
-
On TV Tonight!™
CBS - A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (Faith Hill) pushes back reruns of NCIS and THE MENTALIST an hour.
ABC - GRINCH, REDISCOVERED, THE LIST
PBS - INDEPENDENT LENS (about how GREY GARDENS became a musical)
TNT - LEVERAGE
-
What folks here need to understand re: "Miss America" is that South Carolina always took its "Miss South Carolina" pageants VERY SERIOUSLY back in the day.
Even though Mississippi seemed to generate more Miss Americas than any state, South Carolina was recognized as having one of the nation's premier state pageants. Other states had more winners, but "Miss South Carolina" was almost always a top-10 finalist.
There were some serious contenders out of South Carolina, but none shone more brightly than Marian McKnight. The "Miss America" pageant was a major TV event and front-page news in most newspapers, also "back in the day."
Things began to change, at least for me, when the pageant officials decided to divest themselves of Bert Parks as emcee. Parks was THE "Miss America" emcee. No one ever came close to replacing him.
His version of "There she is, Miss America....there she is, your ideal..." was the ULTIMATE version/rendition of the song that the pageant officials all-too-soon rid themselves of when Parks was replaced.
When you heard Parks launch into that song as the tearful new Miss America began her precarious walk down the runway -- crown perilously wobbling upon her head, heavy cape trailing behind her and her arms cradling a ton of roses -- you couldn't help but break out in chillblains.
The "new blood" that hoped to modernize/improve Miss America ruined it beyond all hope of recovery, IMO. And that was three decades ago!
It's all a bad joke now.
-
And speaking of GREY GARDENS, though the CD is several years old, I only got around to listening to it this year, and I really liked it. I would have chosen this over SPRING AWAKENING based on their CDs alone for the Best Musical Tony.
The other Best CD of the Year for me was THE MUSIC BEHIND THE MAGIC, a fabulous box set of demos and finished tracks for Menken/Ashman Disney projects.
-
What folks here need to understand re: "Miss America" is that South Carolina always took its "Miss South Carolina" pageants VERY SERIOUSLY back in the day.
Even though Mississippi seemed to generate more Miss Americas than any state, South Carolina was recognized as having one of the nation's premier state pageants. Other states had more winners, but "Miss South Carolina" was almost always a top-10 finalist.
There were some serious contenders out of South Carolina, but none shone more brightly than Marian McKnight. The "Miss America" pageant was a major TV event and front-page news in most newspapers, also "back in the day."
Things began to change, at least for me, when the pageant officials decided to divest themselves of Bert Parks as emcee. Parks was THE "Miss America" emcee. No one ever came close to replacing him.
His version of "There she is, Miss America....there she is, your ideal..." was the ULTIMATE version/rendition of the song that the pageant officials all-too-soon rid themselves of when Parks was replaced.
When you heard Parks launch into that song as the tearful new Miss America began her precarious walk down the runway -- crown perilously wobbling upon her head, heavy cape trailing behind her and her arms cradling a ton of roses -- you couldn't help but break out in chillblains.
The "new blood" that hoped to modernize/improve Miss America ruined it beyond all hope of recovery, IMO. And that was three decades ago!
It's all a bad joke now.
Yes indeed. The coverage of the PRELIMINARY nights of competition was front page news - for the STATE PAGEANT. Once the Miss America competition preliminaries began, it was a breathless time seeing who won the talent, swimsuit, and gown preliminaries. Some years, they'd keep the results of the evening gown preliminaries secret so the complete lists of finalists wouldn't be so obvious. Girls that won both a swimsuit and talent preliminary could pretty much expect to make it into the top 10 and probably the top 5.
On the final night, talent counted 40% toward the final score so winning one of those prelimaries was a BIG step toward winning the title. Swimsuit and evening gown results were 20% each. The final 20% was personality/poise/final question.
And I sure agree about Bert Parks. He was emblematic of the Miss America Pageant.
One year, the composer of "There She Is, Miss America" wanted more money for his song, and the pageant was going to drop it, having gotten another song "Miss America, You're Beautiful" as a replacement. Only a few hours before show time, negotiations were reached, and the other song was used as the song for the year's previous winner as she was first presented to the audience at the opening of the show.
-
Do most people in snowy climates keep their cars in the garage?
Around here most people do not. They use their garage to store garage type things and keep their cars in the driveways.
I have always kept my car in my garage and am very happy I do. A lot of people have a garage full of junk, but that's never made sense to me in a climate where you'd have to scrape the ice and snow off the car and where your car would be subject to the intense cold we get. I think the majority of the people I know here put their cars in the garage in the winter...many may only have one car in the garage and others in the driveway ...
-
I am waiting for my 10:30 appointment and then must go to the mall and find one more present for my mother. I forgot that I was going to do that last weekend, but with the snow didn't venture out. I'm also going to exchange the sweater Edith got for me. It isn't that I don't like it, I do, in fact I like it so much I bought the very sweater for myself about 10 days ago. I don't need two and she'll never know the difference so I just told her I love it.
-
I don't really have a CD list. I don't listen to them all that often anymore.
-
The mall will be brutal, DR CILLA LIZ. But you will persevere. The only thing worse than they way people drive is....the way people park.
-
I remember the Miss America pageants. They were a big deal. Back then.
-
Arizona's very own Vonda Kay Van Dyke Miss America in 1965. Her talent was ventriloquism.
-
Miss Washington D.C. 1949, aka Miss District of Columbia.
Disqualified when she saw her male cousin in the lobby of the Atlantic City hotel where she stayed during the pageant, rushed across the lobby and hugged him. Chaperones saw her and reported it to pageant officials. Contestants were forbidden to have ANY contact with ANY male during the pageant. She was not told that she had been disqualified and competed in events up until the last night. Judges Earl Wilson and Walter Winchell both had chosen her to win.
-
This cleared the way for the win for Jacque Mercer. Miss Arizona, to be crowned Miss America 1949. Mercer was married AND divorced during her 12 month reign...so new rules covering matrimony were established by The Pageant.
There was NO Miss America for 1950. Beginning in that year, Miss America was designated for the following year....so Mercer's replacement became Miss America 1951.
The Miss America Pageant officials do not have a sense of humor and emails with questions are routinely answered with suspicion. They will also NOT discuss anything about the disqualification of Miss Washington DC 1949. And they tout themselves as the biggest SCHOLARSHIP pageant system in the world and claim that college for the contestants is their goal.
Email them some time with a simple question, but be prepared. They defend even when they aren't being attacked.
-
Word to the wise: shovelling a long driveway for the first time in 30+ years can lead to severe back pain. Oy.
-
I think my DH wants to go back to work; I have mentioned a couple of things I need done here at home.
-
Tuesday morning greetings! My clean-up elves are working hard in the kitchen that I spent yesterday and this morning messing up. We now have 2 kinds of cookies, green Jello salad, marinated carrots, Gram cheese, and a pecan pie (about to come out of the oven). This cooking storm was in prep for our biggest gathering of the week - tonight. All I have yet to do is mix up the cheesy potatoes and set the table.
-
Happiest of birthdays to DR WFO!
-
Email them some time with a simple question
Hmmm....
Like, "What will you do to further world peace?" ;)
-
shovelling a long driveway
Oh!!!
Did you have snow in Portland, DR JMK?
-
shovelling a long driveway
Oh!!!
Did you have snow in Portland, DR JMK?
Just a little. ;D
I must say, as a former Utahn, this is easily the worst storm, accumulation wise, we've ever had in the 32 years I've lived here. We have close to three feet where the plows came through and a good two feet elsewhere. It's really amazing. They are, of course, predicting another big storm for tomorrow, so I have no clew whether I'll be able to get to either Christmas Eve service to conduct the music. Of course my hunch is most of the choir won't be able to get there either, so it may be (literally) moot. :)
-
In the '50s and early '60s, watching the Miss American Pageant was a big TV event for my mom and "her girls." We had clam dip and hijacked the TV from my dad.
-
When I was young it was de rigeur for Miss Utah, if she made the finals and did her talent "thing," to perform an interpretive dance. This happened several years as I recall. I very clearly remember one Miss Utah doing an interpretive dance of the famed attack of the locusts in Salt Lake City, with the seagulls swooping in and carrying them off, dropping them in the Great Salt Lake. What I mostly remember is my entire family laughing so hard we were crying.
-
Arizona's very own Vonda Kay Van Dyke was crowned Miss America in 1964. Her talent was ventriloquism.
I remember that pageant distinctly. I thought she had it in the bag from the moment she stepped foot on the stage. And after she brought down the house with her talent presentation, there was no doubt about it.
-
Off to the office party
-
The tax office, that is
-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to former/E&T DR William F. Orr!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DR WILLIAM F. ORR!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DS BRYAN!
-
Most heartbreaking Miss America contest for me was the 1971 year. Miss South Carolina was a drop-dead gorgeous honey blonde named Claudia Turner. She sang the haunting, beautiful "Once Upon a Time" for her talent. She had won a swimsuit preliminary, and she clearly did the best job of the five finalists with her question.
It came down to the last two - Miss South Carolina and Miss Texas.
Miss Texas won. Miss Texas was Phyllis George who went on to a big career in TV. Claudia, radiant as always, came back home and became the spokeswoman for Pet Milk. But she never had the national career her looks and talent should have brought her.
-
I am so so happy Freddy the cat made it home.
He makes us worry!
He sure does!!!
-
DR Ron Pulliam, I am always amazed at your stories of holiday drama.
As am I, DR Laura. Sigh!
:)
Happily, this small town seems oblivious to our drama despite being a center of gossip about so-and-so and her/his medical conditions or her/his son's/daughter's/grandchild's misdeeds. Only yesterday, the second of my cousin Becky's best friends (Ashton) from school (Becky is a senior) delivered a baby out of wedlock (as we say, politely, down here in the South). Something far more common today is the fact that both her friends' babies are "mixed", racially. I get mixed signals on the "how" these things happen when it's clear nobody is happy that they did. Apparently, the girls are expected to be on birth control and the boys are not expected to provide any form of protection. If the girls are, however, on antibiotics, the birth control apparently does not work.
Is that a new wives' tale, do you suppose? "Oh, I was on antibiotics. I wouldn't have gotten pregnant, otherwise."
I can suggest one other way to avoid pregnancy of any kind.
-
I've got a turkey roasting in the oven, but I believe it's time for it to come out, so let me go get it. Then I'll check the mail, eat lunch, and then start on my reviewing job for the day.
WBBL.
-
The tax office, that is
As opposed to the Office for Wayward Parody Lyricists? ;)
-
VIBES FOR SWEET LITTLE ORANGE KITTY!!!
-
Oh, Page Four Dance!!!
-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to DR Jane's DS Bryan!!!! :)
-
And now I'm REALLY going!
;D
-
Most heartbreaking Miss America contest for me was the 1971 year. Miss South Carolina was a drop-dead gorgeous honey blonde named Claudia Turner. She sang the haunting, beautiful "Once Upon a Time" for her talent. She had won a swimsuit preliminary, and she clearly did the best job of the five finalists with her question.
It came down to the last two - Miss South Carolina and Miss Texas.
Miss Texas won. Miss Texas was Phyllis George who went on to a big career in TV. Claudia, radiant as always, came back home and became the spokeswoman for Pet Milk. But she never had the national career her looks and talent should have brought her.
She was the logical successor to McKnight, IMO. I loved her!
-
It's National Turkey Coming Out Day!!!!!
-
What a festive week in DR Jane's family - happy birthday, DS Bryan!
-
VIBES FOR SWEET LITTLE ORANGE KITTY!!!
DOUBLE DITTO!!!!! :)
-
It's National Turkey Coming Out Day!!!!!
Then by all means, singdaw, "COME OUT"! :D
-
Touché! :)
-
I've got a turkey roasting in the oven...
Up until yesterday afternoon, cousin Becky's friend Ashton had one, as well!
-
Email them some time with a simple question
Hmmm....
Like, "What will you do to further world peace?" ;)
Yes, like that.
-
DR MBarnum: I know all too well the anxieties you go through each time DC Freddy "disappears" for a while.
It's the not knowing whether he's trapped, hurt, captive or worse that drives you nuts.
When they come home, you can't help but baby them and cluck over them and hug them close even though you could wring their little necks for putting you through the agony.
That must be what it's like being the parent of a teenager!
-
Word to the wise: shovelling a long driveway for the first time in 30+ years can lead to severe back pain. Oy.
LONG, what long driveway! Keith said I should post a photo of our driveway, except we would need an aerial view.
-
shovelling a long driveway
Oh!!!
Did you have snow in Portland, DR JMK?
;D
-
That must be what it's like being the parent of a teenager!
;D Very true.
-
Thanks DRs Singdaw & Ginny.
-
Jane-
Isn't that AMAZING.. My DS Craig's Birthday is today,
Happy Birthday To Craig and Bryan
-
Good Morning! Good Afternoon!
I'm up, I'm up... And I believe it's snowing in Portland, Oregon. Or, at least, it was.
-
Word to the wise: shovelling a long driveway for the first time in 30+ years can lead to severe back pain. Oy.
LONG, what long driveway! Keith said I should post a photo of our driveway, except we would need an aerial view.
Jane, Jane, Jane, how many times must I say it: this isn't a competition. ;D
-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR WILLIAM F. ORR!!!!!
-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CRAIG BROCKMAN!!!!!
-
this isn't a competition.
No. But maybe a pissing contest. ;D
-
Happy birthday to the newly-engaged Craig Brockman!
-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to DR ArnoldMBrockman's DS Craig!! :)
-
DR Ron Pulliam - There's always YouTube.
-
*I'm not sure that even made sense. Although, I don't seem to be making much sense lately anyway, so... ::)
-
PAGE FIVE CORNBREAD DANCE!!!!!
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/3122492337_1f2e5ab962.jpg)
-
Happiest of birthdays to WFO and to the son of those folks with THE LONGEST DRIVEWAY IN THE WORRRLLLLLDDD! ;)
-
Jane-
Isn't that AMAZING.. My DS Craig's Birthday is today,
Happy Birthday To Craig and Bryan
I was trying to remember the interesting birthday connection.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR DS CRAIG! I think mine is still sleeping. The birthday boy is up :)
-
Happiest of birthdays to WFO and to the son of those folks with THE LONGEST DRIVEWAY IN THE WORRRLLLLLDDD! ;)
;D I wish this snow & driveway competition is one we were loosing by a mile.
Thank you for the birthday wishes :)
-
Well, I still need to think about today's Topic of the Day... And yesterday's too (spoo!)...
-
But now I need to get ready to head into midtown to run some errands, as well as attend today's taping of "The Late Show with David Letterman". -Mickey Rourke is the main guest, so it should be a pretty good and interesting show.
Laters...
-
Happy Birthday to Craig Brockman!
Happy Birthday to Bryan, son of Nursie! Did I get that right?
Jo and I ran through many errands in the past 3 hours: breakfast at a restaurant called Dad's, a stop at a furniture store to pick up a replacement cushion for her sofa, the bank, Fed Ex, J C Penney, Best Buy, and the supermarket. We got home to find Fed Ex delivering her a Christmas package of godivas from me, and then UPS delivered my Vitamin C, 1500 mg dosage. The deliveries sent Max and Maddie into overdrive so now the joint is jumpin'.
Max is jealous of anyone getting near Jo, so for the past week he's had to deal with me being around, Jo sitting with Riley and Jayden, and he's a neurotic mess begging for attention. Poor puppy!
DR Charles Pogue, thanks for mentioning the Johnny crawford CD; it sounds great and now I want a copy.
-
So I just bought one on amazon.com!
-
DR Elmore - we go to Dad's quite often. Love the pork tenderloin sandwich!
-
I don't know that I watched the MISS AMERICA contest all that often...it was MISS UNIVERSE that I never missed as a kid/teen/young adult.
I always rooted for Miss Japan, Miss Iceland, and Miss Trinidad and Tobago.
-
Happy birthdays to Craig and Bryan.
-
Did they cancel your work today, DR MBARNUM, or do you get out the snowshoes?
-
Happy Birthday to the Two Flying Saucers man.
-
Birthday wishes to Bryan and Craig.
-
Thank you from the Bears. They love Christmas time
They are still waiting for TRAIN photographs from DtM
And as it is 5.30 am I am going back to bed.
-
LOL.
Icy rain prediction changed to just rain.....so travel should be fine in these parts.
-
Thank you DRs JRand, Tomovoz & elmore who did get it right.
-
It's National Turkey Coming Out Day!!!!!
Is it a day for gay turkeys that are coming out? Or for all sort of folks to come out and admit that they are turkeys?
I know quite a few who should take advantage of the day if it's the latter.
-
Happy Birthday to the DS's of two DR's, Craig and Bryan!
-
Happy Birthday To Craig Brockman and Bryan!
-
My family used to watch Miss America every year just so we could make fun of how ugl--er, attractively challenged Miss New Jersey was.
I do remember the year Vanessa Williams competed and won. When she sang for the talent competition (was it "Happy Days Are Here Again"?), I remember my jaw dropping. Miss America contestants were never so stunningly talented. And I actually cheered when she took the crown.
And then the rest of the year happened...
But all came out well for Vanessa in the end, so good for her!
-
Yes--I will get to work on those train photos now...
-
Happy birthday to Bryan Lassner!!!! And to Craig B. And for our DR William Orr!!!!
-
A package of Amazon arrived a little while ago with gifts for others and one for myself--DR HORRIBLE'S SING-A-LONG. I've never looked at these on-line so now I can see what the fuss was all about.
Also curious about what BK thinks about a certain Mitzi Gaynor DVD he purchased last nite.
-
Why are all of my clients suddenly giving me real WORK?
Don't they know it's almost a HOLIDAY??
;)
-
But all came out well for Vanessa in the end, so good for her!
I'm assuming this is a euphemism, considering the photos. ;)
-
I do remember the year Vanessa Williams competed and won. When she sang for the talent competition (was it "Happy Days Are Here Again"?), I remember my jaw dropping. Miss America contestants were never so stunningly talented. And I actually cheered when she took the crown.
And then the rest of the year happened...
But all came out well for Vanessa in the end, so good for her!
Even bad publicity is good publicity, I guess.
-
Back from a pretty scary drive to the store. Everything is a sheet of ice buried under several inches of snow. I'm staying home--just cancelled my Christmas gig for this evening. Bleccch.
-
What a morning! Had a few e-mails which I had to deal with, then had to do the early-morning errand, then jogged and am finally here and posting.
-
How nice to see some Kritzerland CDs on your lists.
-
Bleccch.
Channeling DR SWW, are we? :)
-
Bryan says thank you DRs Dan (the Man), Jennifer, & Penny
-
Forgot to mention the two (count 'em) idiots I encountered on the trip home. On one hilly road toward our house there was some young male clown attempting to ride his bike and slipping all over, both in front of me and in front of oncoming traffic. Then when I turned onto our very hilly and icy street, there was some brain dead woman cross country skiing up the MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I politely tooted my horn to get her to get out of the way of both me and the traffic coming down the hill, but did she? NOOOO. She had the audacity to give me a dirty look. Unfortunately for her I was right by my driveway, and I pulled in, hopped out of the SUV and gave her a stern talking to. I hate people (a SCROOGE reference).
-
Bryan says thank you DRs Dan (the Man), Jennifer, & Penny
I guess my driveway isn't long enough to make the list. ;)
-
--just cancelled my Christmas gig for this evening.
And it's a good thing, too - Christmas isn't until Thursday! ;)
-
Bryan says thank you DRs Dan (the Man), Jennifer, & Penny
I guess my driveway isn't long enough to make the list. ;)
I'm sorry if I missed you, and Bryan know you too. I have relayed your message & he says thank you. I've also been relaying your snow reports.
-
Our DirectTV signal just bit the dust (and/or ice). And in breaking news, it's snowing.
-
BREAKING NEWS.....BREAKING NEWS.....BREAKING NEWS.....BREAKING NEWS.....BREAKING NEWS.....
SNOW SEEN IN PORTLAND, OR!!!!
BREAKING NEWS.....BREAKING NEWS.....BREAKING NEWS.....BREAKING NEWS.....BREAKING NEWS.....
-
The baking has begun!
-
I'm hoping to actually start enjoying the day at some point.
-
Breaking News in Phoenix, Arizona:
SUNSHINE
-
Clouds seem to be moving in, and I suspect we'll get that rain late tomorrow as forecast.
-
One of the gifts I gave myself for Christmas was season three of NCIS. I didn't start watching the show until season 4, so all of the previous seasons are new episodes to me. The early seasons were on sale at DD, but I have 1 already and I bought 3 rather than 2 since 3 is when Ziva joined the squad. I watched episode 3 today while eating lunch. Ziva isn't there yet, and the mystery was pretty easy to solve (there were really only two suspects). Still fun.
I skipped the first two episodes on disc 1 because it was a two-part episode and I didn't have time today to watch the entire story since I had that four hour TV-movie staring me in the face. I'll get to those first two episodes later in the week.
-
I did begin THE AGE OF MEDICI today. It's a three-part made-for-TV miniseries on Corino De Medici. I watched all of part I and about half of part II. I'll finish it and Part III tonight, and that should leave time to watch LEVERAGE tonight.
It's fairly slow-going, however. It's very talky, and it was all post-dubbed so there's that flat sound associated with dubbing after the fact. After eatingmy lunch, with all of that droning dialog, I had to rouse myself out of my chair to keep from nodding off.
Beautifully appointed, however, and the period (15th century) has been well captured. And the transfer is aces. Gorgeously sharp and colorful with just occasional dust specks marring a perfect picture.
-
Sort of the TOD - I'm listening to the Holiday genre on my iPod as I bake, and I absolutely LOVE all of bk's "A Broadway Christmas", and furthermore, I can listen to Lynne Wintersteller forever. I wish she had done more, she is fantastic. Also liking when Susan Egan's "Winter Tracks" shuffles in, she's another one I could listen to forever.
-
I also skimmed through today's AS THE WORLD TURNS. Luke and Noah were on, but it couldn't have been duller. A scene in the police station where a criminal gets the drop on the police was so pitifully staged that I burst out laughing.
Nothing in the previews.
-
Page six will NOT do, oh, no, page six will NOT do.
-
I'm going to get something to eat, then I'll start addressing packages. I'm told we could actually have CDs by next week.
-
I can listen to Lynne Wintersteller forever. I wish she had done more, she is fantastic.
DITTO!!!! :)
-
I received an email today from an old guy in Tacoma WA. It has been snowing there.
I wonder if it snows in Portland OR.
-
Heading down now to rejoin the Medicis in FLorence.
WBBL.
-
Unless something happens to top it in the next eight days, the highlight of 2008 for me is getting a lovely email from Paul Williams, who wrote the lyric for "You and Me Against the World," telling me how much he enjoyed my parody of his song in the youtube video.
-
How delightful DR FJL.
-
In the land of OZ the parodies are very well received.
-
Back from eating yummilicous Dino's pizza. So good. Will now begin addressing packages.
-
The mall will be brutal, DR CILLA LIZ. But you will persevere. The only thing worse than they way people drive is....the way people park.
Ah, it was a very productive trip. Between the sale, the return and a coupon I traded a sweater that was on sale for a more expensive sweater and a really nice pair of jeans....for $15 out of my pocket!!! What a deal
-
I am totally amazed at the amount of merchandise in the stores this close to Christmas. The stores seem to be doing some very selective 50% off stuff and I was told at Pier One that people aren't buying unless it's on sale. There is going to have to be the mother of all sales after Christmas - that's going to REALLY be a zoo
-
Word to the wise: shovelling a long driveway for the first time in 30+ years can lead to severe back pain. Oy.
LONG, what long driveway! Keith said I should post a photo of our driveway, except we would need an aerial view.
An inexpensive snowblower would be great for you. I got the cheapest one Sears had in 2001 and I'm still using it
-
But now I need to get ready to head into midtown to run some errands, as well as attend today's taping of "The Late Show with David Letterman". -Mickey Rourke is the main guest, so it should be a pretty good and interesting show.
Laters...
I'll watch for you tonight!
-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO WFO, BRYAN and CRAIG B!!!
-
DP has discovered Facebook - I'll never see him again. At least I can chat with him when he's on, even if he is sitting next to me!
-
Dino's pizza.
I'm so confused. Dino is a pizza chef? I thought Dino was a piano player...
-
Back from eating yummilicous Dino's pizza. So good. Will now begin addressing packages.
He plays piano AND makes pizza? I give up.
-
Dino's pizza.
I'm so confused. Dino is a pizza chef? I thought Dino was a piano player...
Stop that
-
My first client this morning seemed fine and we did our business and then she said something about the accident last night. I asked what happened. Turns out she went off the road in the afternoon and rolled her car. She was ok, and left her car there. Late last night she and her husband went to get some things out of the car and heard a woman screaming. They looked and a truck had gone off the road and was in the Big Sioux River. One man was in the trees and another was still in the truck. They were the first on the scene and said that you couldn't see the truck from the road. Not sure how much time had passed but they called the police and got help. The woman in the accident is in critical condition.
Here's the story from the news http://www.ktiv.com/global/story.asp?s=9570188
Two dead, one seriously injured in Interstate 29 accident
Posted: Dec 23, 2008 08:07 AM CST
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) - Two people are dead, another is in critical condition after a pick up careens off Interstate-29 in Sioux City and into the Big Sioux River.
But how authorities discovered that accident is through an incredible chain of events.
Police say a female driver lost control of her car yesterday afternoon between the Hamilton and Riverside Exits and went back about one this morning to retrieve items from her car still down on the riverfront trail.
That's when she heard cries for help.
This pick-up truck had apparently also gone in the ditch sometime overnight and was partially emerged in the Big Sioux River.
The two men that were killed was the driver, 47-year-old Jimmy Warren of McCook Lake, South Dakota and passenger 49-year-old Kip Jarman of Sioux City, Iowa.
A female victim in the truck, 30-year-old Janel Sherill of Sioux City, is listed in critical condition at Mercy Medical Center after suffering from "exposure."
I-29 was shut down for several hours while crews cleaned up the crash site.
We'll have more on this, coming up tonight at six.
-
Wow.
-
They were told if they hadn't gone back to look in the car, the woman would almost certainly died as well. So, it's pretty miraculous for her that they decided to clean out their car at 1:00 AM
-
My evening plans have fallen apart since the area's under a sleet and ice situation. My friend Loyce and I were going out to dinner and our original plan was to meet her at her place at 6:30. Since i didn't have her cell phone number, i left her several messages on her cell phone suggesting we wait and see how horrible it wasfor her to get home from work. She just called me and left a message on my phone telling me she can't get her car up the hill to make the last blocks home. We still have a party on Sunday so i wil see her before I go back to the City.
I guess it's back to BABES IN TOYLAND!
-
Wow! Hero Time!
-
Icy roads here, expected to clear by morning.
I almost bought the NIP/TUCK season three today for only 14.95......maybe I will go back to get it tomorrow......
-
Most of our grocery stores have had self-checkout lanes for several years. But this is new:
The "Scan-IT" system. As you enter the store, you scan your discount card at a little kiosk and pick up a small hand-held scanner and some bags. As you shop, you scan each item as you put it into your bags. Then, at the checkout, you scan your card again, return the scanner, and pay - your order is already totaled.
Interesting, and if everyone adapts to it, a real time-saver at the checkout line!!!
Upper management has foisted this on our store. It's not as great an idea as it seems.
It actually takes longer for the customer to locate the bar code on the item being purchased, scan them one at a time, bag them, and then proceed to where the next item they want to purchase is located in the store, as opposed to having a cashier do most of this work. This is a simple case of efficiency in performing a task - the cashier is capable of scanning the items quickly, because it's what they do as a job. At our store, we also do the bagging for the customer, something we can do very quickly because we are both practiced at the job, and because the bags are held up on a frame, rather than loose and unsupported in the cart. These uninteresting things are what we do for a living. The customer should only have to do the fun part - the shopping.
There is a team representing the firm that has made the hand scanners, trying to entice customers to using these new "easy" devices. Most of our customers are point blank uninterested. Many who have used the scanners have said that it makes shopping harder, instead of easier, and will not be using the scanners again.
Besides, what would you rather hear when you pay: "Have a pleasant day!" or *beep*? Interacting with a real, live person has it's advantages.
That having been said, there is one part of the process that I approve of - we now have computerized scales in the produce department, where the customer can place the bagged produce on the scale, enter on the computer touchscreen what the item is, get a report on the screen as to what the price of the item is, press a button which tells the computer to print out a label with a bar code on it, and the bar code can then be scanned easily at the register (or with the hand scanner). The advantage of this is that the customer knows how much the produce will cost as they are accumulating their purchases.
Other than that, the system is crap, something that makes shopping harder for the customer.
Not to mention the fifteen-foot stretch at the front door that is now being taken up by the hand scanner display, space that was formerly used by the grocery and general merchandise managers for special displays of seasonal goods. Talk about a negative impact on sales! Sheesh.
-
I like to watch a human scan my groceries....and talk a bit now and then.
-
Oh, before I forget...
As a cashier, I am very aware of how much one of our bags will hold, both in terms of volume and in terms of weight. I know when it is a better idea to double-bag, such as when faced with a frozen turkey. I know when to quit piling things into the bag, because the bag will not be strong enough to hold more. And I know how to put items in a bag, with heavy items towards the bottom, and lighter items towards the top. I know how to plan ahead, and put cold items together. I know that cans work well together in a bag, and that boxed items bag well together, while a combination of the two is usually not such a good idea.
What are the odds that a customer is going to do as good a job of bagging their groceries as I can do it for them?
And dang, I'm fast!
-
DR SWW I shop at Aldi's and I have learned all of these things as well.
-
I am getting a room ready for my sister and her husband to come and stay on Christmas Day. He has decided he wants to deep fry a turkey.
-
I am getting a room ready for my sister and her husband to come and stay on Christmas Day. He has decided he wants to deep fry a turkey.
I'm thinking it would be better to deep fry the turkey outside rather than in the room you are preparing. Just sayin'...
-
DR MATTHEW I am thinking they will need the room to stay in when their house burns down.
-
I like to watch a human scan my groceries....and talk a bit now and then.
Absolutely! That's another part of the job, interacting with the customers!
These days, unless the customer is dealing with a specialty item (something from the deli, the bakery, or seafood), the odds are that the only person they actually talk with in the store is the cashier! It's their chance to vent, to ask questions, to say how happy they are, or aren't. There isn't one of us working the registers that doesn't have a store of repartee, ready to make that human connection with a customer.
Have a reusable bag from another store, especially from someplace miles away? Hey, that's an interesting bag! How's the shopping there? (Or, with the bags from one chain, "Where's your favorite Trader Joe's?" Yep, I really ask that!) And it's five cents back for every bag used! ("It used to be three cents, but we've had inflation.")
And I always make sure the customer gets their bonus card savings. Forgot your card? Let's work with a phone number instead. "Oh, we don't have a card." That's OK, our system is geared so it'll work with any phone number. "We're from out of state." No, really, any phone number. We get so many customers who are here visiting that we found this is the easiest way to share our sales. "Well, thank-you!"
We cashiers are here to help the customer, to make them feel better about their shopping experience.
Sure, there's the occasional lemon of a customer who can spoil part of the day. But they're soon gone. And most of the time, it's the good times that rule the day.
Dang, I like my job!
-
The print of WHITE CHRISTMAS on the ABC Family HD Channel looks much better than my DVD.
-
DR Jennifer - according to the brochure I picked up, the scanner has a "remove" option.
It looks like it's pretty much the honor system...bolstered by "random audits," where they come and re-scan all of your purchases at check-out. I presume if you don't pass the audit, your SCAN-ITTM privileges are put in jeopardy.
Out of curiosity, DR Whingdaw, are you shopping at a Stop and Shop? Or at a Giant Supermarket?
We've got the same brochure.
How do you like our goldenrod shirts?
-
If they re-scan all your stuff doesn't that make the quicker aspect pointless. :)
We only re-scan if the random audit kicks in. I've yet to perform a random audit.
The vast majority of customers are amazingly honest. It's only a rare few that are trying to steal.
From what I've heard, a customer can refuse an audit. But if they do, their bonus card will not activate the Scan-It handscanner the next time.
-
DR SWoody, I thought of you the other day while at the grocery check-out. Not because of the wonderful service, but because I knew you'd be appalled at the way the cashier and the bagger were kvetching about their jobs in front of the customers.
-
Yes, DR MATTH - I remember when Miss America was an EVENT that everyone looked forward to and watched....did it happen in September? I seem to remember it was around the start of the school year.
Yes, September. It was always the unofficial start of the new TV season. The World Series, the Miss America Pageant, and the Academy Awards were always the most watched annual events on TV. (The Super Bowl hadn't been "invented" yet when I was young.)
Back when you we were young, a Super Bowl would have involved ten pins at the end of a long wooden lane.
-
Word to the wise: shovelling a long driveway for the first time in 30+ years can lead to severe back pain. Oy.
This is why you have children. THEY are supposed to do the shovelling!
-
Out of curiosity, DR Whingdaw, are you shopping at a Stop and Shop?
Yes. And I like the new shirt color scheme very much! :)
-
I am watching CIMARRON discussed here recently by MR BK and DR DRUXY.
-
Good Evening!
I had a WONDERFUL time at "The Late Show with David Letterman"!! David Letterman was in good form, Mickey Rourke was a good guest, Jay Thomas knocked the meatball off the top of the Christmas Tree with a football, and Darlene Love ROCKED the house!!!! -Truly put me in the Christmas Spirit!!!
:)
-
I'm having a fudge emergency.
So I gather all my stuff to take to my niece's to make 2 kinds of fudge (she got bored after the first one). I think the maple one will be fine (it's hardening in the fridge).
But my white chocolate one is a disaster.
It won't harden. I just put in the freezer to see if that will help.
I wish i had more experience with fudge to know what to do.
I accidently did something wrong with one of the ingredients. It said to make 7 oz of marshmellow cream to put part of bag of marshmellows and 1/4 cup of milk. It made a really nice cream. But then i think i was supposed to measure 7 oz. Or i think that is what i should have done (although it did say to make 7 oz of marxhmellow cream do X). So i started pouring most of it in my fudge. ANd it was quite a few cups.
It's weird because the leftover "fudge" that i put in a bowl seemed to get much harder than the same stuff in the fridge.
Not sure what to do. :(
-
I am watching CIMARRON discussed here recently by MR BK and DR DRUXY.
Please let us know what you think of it.
-
Out of curiosity, DR Whingdaw, are you shopping at a Stop and Shop?
Yes. And I like the new shirt color scheme very much! :)
I've four goldenrod shirts (two long-sleeve, two short) and one purple (for when I'm monitoring the Easy-Scan registers).
Not colors I would choose to wear personally, but they do stand out, so that customers know who the associates at the store are. But, if der B and I go shopping elsewhere after my shift, it's an awkward look, not something I'd normally wear when I'm out on the town.
Now, the aprons, those I like. Mainly because of the pockets. They're great for holding pens, scan-cards (again, for monitoring the Easy-Scan registers), store directories.
-
But now I need to get ready to head into midtown to run some errands, as well as attend today's taping of "The Late Show with David Letterman". -Mickey Rourke is the main guest, so it should be a pretty good and interesting show.
Laters...
I'll watch for you tonight!
I ended up sitting in the last seat in the last row on the audience left side of the theatre. Actually, a very good seat for sightlines. They did do a few audience pans tonight, so look for the bright red sweater in the back corner. -And it seemed like they taped a LOT of show today, so I'm curious to see what got edited out for tonight's broadcast. Normally, they try to run the show in real time, but we ran over by 15 minutes today.
-And, yes! Darlene Love... WOW! -And Annie Golden was sining back-up for her too!
-
OK.. Now it's off to dinner...
Laters...
-
...And, yes! Darlene Love... WOW! -And Annie Golden was sining back-up for her too!
Annie Golden was doing ASL for the hard-of-hearing? That's a talent I didn't know she had! Good for her!
-
RE: the scan thing.
I wasn't thinking that it would be at grocery stores. I was thinking of a walmart type store that is very crowded and where you might not necessarily buy so many items.
-
I wonder if the fudge does not harden if there is something else i can turn it in to.
I just found on recipe where you roll the loose fudge into balls and then dip it in chocolate.
-
Btw did anyone happen to see the HILLS finale?
My sis who doesn't even watch the show saw it.
I haven't finished the After Show yet. But the actual finale had a bunch of surprises.
*
*
SPOILER SPACE
fduafpudsofpu daofpudsaoufopdsaufidsaufopds uau opu u fuafuidsfpdusof suaop
Heidi Montag and Lauren Conrad used to be best friends. but they have not been speaking for a few years. Well surprisingly to me, they were at the same party (heidi was working at it). And then sort of almost made up and lauren hugged her!
But most surprising to me was that heidi and spencer (who eloped in mexico a few weeks ago, which was not legal) were going to city hall to make their marriage legal. But Spencer's sister stephanie had told him that he should not go through with it since heidi's mom was mad at them and would not attend. So in the middle of the ceremony after Heidi had already said her I DOs, Spencer stopped the ceremony and asked her if she wanted to wait to have a big wedding with her mom. ANd she said yes. So they stopped it!
faufdu aofpudaoisfu oidaufduafoduafopudsaoiufdaopfuodsa ufopsufdoudsfo puo u
-
I can't help you with the fudge emergency, DR Jennifer. My being in a kitchen is almost emergency enough.
-
But rolling it into balls and dipping it in chocolate sounds like a good idea.
-
I can't help you with the fudge emergency, DR Jennifer. My being in a kitchen is almost emergency enough.
:)
-
But rolling it into balls and dipping it in chocolate sounds like a good idea.
yeah it does sound sort of good. Although i feel dumb. But marshmellow creme is not something we use here.
It's just a shame. All that hard work!
I guess it's still possible that it hardens. But i won't hold my breathe.
Hopefully i won't butcher my aunt's meatballs or the 7 layer taco dip.
-
And to top it all off i've been waiting for book 4/5 of a series i'm reading (i read 1-3 and have 5). Well the person JUST returned it (i was at the library earlier today). But the library closes in 8 minutes for the 24, 25, 26! :)
-
The fudge problem made me think of this...
Margaret Jo McCullen: Hello. I'm Margaret Jo McCullen.
Teri Rialto: And I'm Teri Rialto.
Margaret Jo McCullen: And you're listening to..
Together: The Delicious Dish, on National Public Radio.
Margeret Jo McCullen: Now, Teri, it's Christmas season again, our favorite time of the year.
Teri Rialto: Actually, Margaret Jo, holiday time is when the most culinary wishes can come true. Now, what's on your list this holiday season, Margaret Jo?
Margeret Jo McCullen: Well, Teri, I got real freaky this year. I'm asking Kris Kringle for a wooden bowl, some oversized index cards, and a funnel.
Teri Rialto: Ooooh, a funnel! That'll be great for funneling!
Margeret Jo McCullen: I know. I feel like a glutton! What's onyour list, Teri?
Teri Rialto: Well, I'm only asking Santa for one thing - a big box of glue traps to help me with my excessive rat problem? Are you, Margaret Jo, gonna leave any treats out for Santa this year?
Margeret Jo McCullen: Oh, absolutely, I always do! I like to leave Santa some tap water and rice. If Santa's anything like me, Christmas foods really reek havoc on the ol' digestive system. What are you going to leave, Teri?
Teri Rialto: Uh, I can't ever leave food out in my apartment, because I have an excessive rat problem.
Margeret Jo McCullen: Makes sense. Neat.
Teri Rialto: Good times.
Margeret Jo McCullen: Good times.
Teri Rialto: Well, Christmas is a time for traditional foods and bite-size treats, and we have a very special guest today.
Margeret Jo McCullen: That's right, Teri. He's the owner of his own holiday bakery, with a very, very cleaver name - Season's Eatings.
Teri Rialto: [ laughs ] That's really funny!
Margeret Jo McCullen: I know, it rhymes with Season's Greetings!
Teri Rialto: Please welcome the owner of Season's Eatings - Pete Schweddy.
[ Pete pulls up to his mike ]
Margeret Jo McCullen: Well, Pete, Teri and I have been looking forward to having you on the show, 'cause we know you're the master of all kinds of Christmas goodies. Tell us about them.
Pete Schweddy: Well, there are lots of great treats this time of year - Zucchini Bread, Fruitcake.. but the thing that I most like to bring out this time of year are my Balls.
Teri Rialto: Mmm.. Balls.. Tell us about your Balls, Pete.
Pete Schweddy: Well, over at Season's Eatings, we have Balls for every taste. Popcorn Balls, Cheese Balls, Rum Balls.. you name it.
Margeret Jo McCullen: Wow! My mouth's watering just thinking about those Balls!
Teri Rialto: It's been years since I've seen any Balls.
Pete Schweddy: Would you like to see my Balls now?
Margeret Jo McCullen: Yeah. Whip them out.
[ Pete places a tray of Balls on the control board ]
Teri Rialto: Mmm.. wow.. you have some beautiful Balls..
Margeret Jo McCullen: They're bigger than I expected.
Pete Schweddy: A lot of people tell me that.
Margeret Jo McCullen: Look at that, Teri - the way they glisten.
Pete Schweddy: That's because make sure that each one of my Balls gets plenty of oil.
Margeret Jo McCullen: I can't help but, notice, Pete - your Balls are a little misshapen.
Pete Schweddy: That's because I rested them on a hot stove too long.
Teri Rialto: Can I touch your Balls.
Pete Schweddy: Go ahead. But be careful, they're very delicate.
Margeret Jo McCullen: Wow. I can't wait to get my mouth around his Balls.
Teri Rialto: [ sniffing ] Ooh.. I like the way your Balls smell..
Pete Schweddy: Do whatever you want to, ladies. My Balls are here for your pleasure.
Margeret Jo McCullen: [ chewing ] Wow, Pete.. I have to say - your Balls are so tender..
Pete Schweddy: Well, there's no beating my Balls. They're made from a secret Schweddy Family recipe. No one can resist my Schweddy Balls.
Margeret Jo McCullen: Wow.. Schweddy Balls. Nothing like a Schweddy Ball.
Teri Rialto: Good Balls.
Margeret Jo McCullen: Mmm.. good times.
Teri Rialto: Good times.. Mmm.. our producer is telling us it's time to wrap it up.
Margeret Jo McCullen: That's all the time we have today, Teri. So, join us next week, when our topic will be that other holiday favorite..
Margaret Jo & Teri - ..Fragrant, Flavored Nuts.
Pete Schweddy: A quick plug! If you order from Season's Eatings now, you can still send out a special Schweddy Ball Sack in time.
Margeret Jo McCullen: Great idea. My niece would love a Sack of Schweddy Balls...
[ fade out ]
-
I typed in "what do do with fudge that didn't harden" and there were some interesting answers.
1.roll in balls and roll in cocoa and they are truffles.
2. reheat it on stove. and then put back in pan.
I wonder if you can really do this??
3. put in freezer.
-
Before it's too late...
A Very Happy Birthday to DR William F. Orr!!
-
I'm back from Gelson's and how have everything I need for the Do, and thank goodness I don't have to leave the house at all tomorrow. The driving by idiots this Christmas season is at an all-time low, with people acting like they've never been behind the wheel of a car. It's really shocking sometimes.
-
I may go ahead and make the tuna pasta salad this evening, then I won't have to start cooking till about one tomorrow.
-
Also, all packages have been addressed.
-
TOD
Gypsy (Broadway 2008 Cast)
OMG! :o How could I forget Gypsy??
Dopey Me! ;)
-
A wonderful show on TeeVee right now, the making of Yo Yo Ma's latest Christmas season CD. Just great!
And my review of the Los Angeles Ballet's Nutcracker is up, on www.FineArtsLA.com -
And my fave CD of the year is a 5 CD set of David Sedaris reading his short stories. I recommend it!!!
-
And (you know about musicians and free food...) I'm licking my ol' chops, thinking of BK's tuna pasta salad tomorrow night...
-
Since I got my car unstuck, and went to work today, I stopped by to see Stan; since I hadn't been there since Saturday when the snow storm struck.
Sadly, I found him totally unresponsive. The nurse said that the change just took place today. He was awake, but I don't think he even saw me or heard me.
I talked to Mark and we had him taken back to the hospital for evaluation. The supposed doctor at The Lutheran Home only comes in once a week, and because of the snow, he hadn't been in at all - and apparently was not returning phone calls.
I guess Stan's four hour Christmas dinner pass at home will not be used this year.
-
Do most people in snowy climates keep their cars in the garage?
Around here most people do not. They use their garage to store garage type things and keep their cars in the driveways.
I have a garage filled with boxes. Someday (and I've been saying this for two years ;)), I'll clean it up and park my car in there, again. Someday.
-
TOTD:
du Shtetle a New York - Sirba Octet avec Isabelle George
a yiddishe mame - Sirba Octet
Eyes Open - Snow Patrol
Rock Ferry - Duffy
19 -Adele
A Little Closer - David Hobson
Marguerite - London Cast
The Story So Far - Stephen Sondheim.
BWO - Halcyon Days
-
Ok, packages are wrapped, but I am not looking forward to the plans for the next two days. A certain in law has not spoken to me since she wrote to tell me the reason that they didn't tell me that their "friends coming over" last summer was really my dad's surprise birthday party was because "we all agreed that we couldn't trust you". I really don't want to spend the holidays with her and we are going to their house tomorrow night and they are coming to my parents' house on Thursday.
-
And my fave CD of the year is a 5 CD set of David Sedaris reading his short stories. I recommend it!!!
I'd not heard of David Sedaris before this Monday!
-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DR WILLIAM F. ORR
And Happy Birthday to Jane's DS Bryan!
-
Sedaris's "Naked " and "When You Are Engulfed in Flames" were recommendations by an Anglican Priest (Minister) who has been kind enough to pay some visits to my father over the past few months.
The visits are on my behalf - not the Church's.
-
My mother told me if I go to sing in the choir at church for the 11:00 PM Christmas Eve service I don't have to wear anything because I'll have a robe! I told her that may be a bit chilly
-
Sorry about the vent. I am just so sick of this and it's the reason I wasn't going to go at all. But, my mother is 81 and dad is 80 and they really want me there, so I'll go. It's the only reason I'm going.
-
PAGE FIVE CORNBREAD DANCE!!!!!
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/3122492337_1f2e5ab962.jpg)
Is that cornbread and ice cream?
-
I don't know that I watched the MISS AMERICA contest all that often...it was MISS UNIVERSE that I never missed as a kid/teen/young adult.
I always rooted for Miss Japan, Miss Iceland, and Miss Trinidad and Tobago.
Not Miss India?
-
PAGE FIVE CORNBREAD DANCE!!!!!
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/3122492337_1f2e5ab962.jpg)
Is that cornbread and ice cream?
Whatever it is, it looks wonderful
-
Unless something happens to top it in the next eight days, the highlight of 2008 for me is getting a lovely email from Paul Williams, who wrote the lyric for "You and Me Against the World," telling me how much he enjoyed my parody of his song in the youtube video.
How very cool!
-
Back from eating yummilicous Dino's pizza. So good. Will now begin addressing packages.
How does he manage to bake pizza while playing the piano?
-
Ok, I just got an email from a distant relative (Walla Walla is pretty distant from here) who without knowing anything about what I'm ranting about, reminded me about living every moment and the joy of life. She is so right about that.
So, I will try to just ignore all the crap and find the good moments in the next few days. I do enjoy being with my parents so I'll just tune out anything I don't want to listen to and let the holiday remind me how happy I am to live with 2 cats. :)
-
That is very cool DR FJL.
-
Happy Birthday to Craig Brockman!
-
Judging by the forecast I just saw, I may be coming home Christmas night to get here before the freezing rain on Friday. Hmmmm, that's not such a bad idea.
-
Out of curiosity, DR Whingdaw, are you shopping at a Stop and Shop?
Yes. And I like the new shirt color scheme very much! :)
I've four goldenrod shirts (two long-sleeve, two short) and one purple (for when I'm monitoring the Easy-Scan registers).
Not colors I would choose to wear personally, but they do stand out, so that customers know who the associates at the store are. But, if der B and I go shopping elsewhere after my shift, it's an awkward look, not something I'd normally wear when I'm out on the town.
Now, the aprons, those I like. Mainly because of the pockets. They're great for holding pens, scan-cards (again, for monitoring the Easy-Scan registers), store directories.
The associates?
-
I am back from my aunt's house where we had some delicious vegetable soup made by my uncle with cornbread into which he had mixed bacon.
Very very tasty.
After dinner, my mom, my aunt and I played a few hands of Skip-Bo.
Now I'm practically caught up here.
Before crossing the street for dinner, my mom and I drove over to the house of my mom's dear friend Jeanette and her daughter "Miss Jane." I have mentioned "Miss Jane" in years past. She is about 62 years old, speaks in a high voice and is mentally about 12. Tonight she was in coveralls and wearing an apron as she worked in the kitchen while we visited with her mom. Her mom is about 87 and getting a bit feeble, but she still drives!
The live in a beautiful old Victorian by the railroad tracks smack in the middle of our town here.
-
Happy Birthday to former DR Craig Brockman, DS of DR Arnold Brockman.
-
"A Fudge Emergency"....sounds kinky, somehow....
-
PAGE FIVE CORNBREAD DANCE!!!!!
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/3122492337_1f2e5ab962.jpg)
Is that cornbread and ice cream?
I think it's butter.
It sure looks like butter to me.
-
Back from eating yummilicous Dino's pizza. So good. Will now begin addressing packages.
How does he manage to bake pizza while playing the piano?
I want to know how he keeps the corn meal from getting caught in the cracks between the keys!
-
Out of curiosity, DR Whingdaw, are you shopping at a Stop and Shop?
Yes. And I like the new shirt color scheme very much! :)
I've four goldenrod shirts (two long-sleeve, two short) and one purple (for when I'm monitoring the Easy-Scan registers).
Not colors I would choose to wear personally, but they do stand out, so that customers know who the associates at the store are. But, if der B and I go shopping elsewhere after my shift, it's an awkward look, not something I'd normally wear when I'm out on the town.
Now, the aprons, those I like. Mainly because of the pockets. They're great for holding pens, scan-cards (again, for monitoring the Easy-Scan registers), store directories.
The associates?
Yes, associates. The people who work at the store, the employees and managers. Associates.
-
Woody is getting very near a plateau
-
I see a Dan but have I missed the train?
-
The print of WHITE CHRISTMAS on the ABC Family HD Channel looks much better than my DVD.
I was thinking that too. Where did they get theirs?!?
-
I see a Dan but have I missed the train?
I hear a train a'comin'...
-
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/IMG_0402.jpg)
An overhead view of the station house of Christmasvillagetown.
-
I'll just go and get my Bears.
-
Thank you DR DtM.
I hope everything goes smoothly.
-
Did Lucy give any advice when the train was on hold?
-
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/IMG_0404.jpg)
Anastasia and her date wait to board the train for a trip to the Nativity Scene (or were they heading to a party at Rasputin's house--I didn't quite catch what she was saying.)
-
I can see Snoopy but is that Woodstock in the tree?
-
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/IMG_0405.jpg)
A crane shot of Christmasvillagetown.
-
I hope Anastasia's date is not prone to roamin' off.
-
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/IMG_0406.jpg)
There's always a fun crowd at the skating rink! Anyone for a hot yam? Only a nickle!
-
I watched the rest of THE AGE OF THE MEDICI. Part 3 (which dealt with architect Leon Battista Alberti) was by far the most interesting of the three sections. My god, that man had his fingers into so many piece of the Renaissance! Very interesting indeed.
The next film in the set is CARTESIUS which is only 2 1/2 hours long; it is about René Descartes.
-
Page Ten Dance!!!
-
Thank you DR DtM. I am enjoying the show. (As are the members of the Bear Family)
-
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/IMG_0408.jpg)
My favorite house in Christmasvillagetown.
-
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/IMG_0410.jpg)
An impromptu concert by a trio of Santas in the town square.
-
Watching the Mitzi Gaynor DVD - the extras have full versions of things that are only shown in brief clips in the show itself - really fun.
-
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/IMG_0411.jpg)
The bustling business district. The butcher shop always has a long line at its counter.
-
I treated myself to the rest of the evening with fun viewing, three more episodes of NCIS which finished off disc 1 in the set. Ziva was introduced in the season opening two-parter. And then she becomes a permanent part of the team in the fourth episode of the season which I also watched.
I like the character of Ziva, but with season 3 one also has to take Lauren Holly as new NCIS director Jenny Shepherd, and that lessens the joys of the rest of the company.
-
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/IMG_0414.jpg)
The Nativity Scene--the prime destination of the residents of Christmasvillagetown.
-
I let the DVR pick up LEVERAGE, and I'll watch it as I eat lunch tomorrow. Then, it'll be back to work on CARTESIUS.
-
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/IMG_0413.jpg)
A close-up shot of the Nativity Scene.
-
Is that lighting or is green the new black?
Wicked Dan.
-
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/IMG_0412.jpg)
And that concludes our pictorial tour of Christmasvillage town.
-
It's a wonderful place to vist DR DtM.
-
Thanks for the tour DtM
-
DRs Tom and Cillaliz, you are both welcome!
Now if I can swing it, I might have an additional surprise (but it will take a while so don't hold your breath tonight.)
-
Making toffee... that's all I'm sayin...
-
Unless something happens to top it in the next eight days, the highlight of 2008 for me is getting a lovely email from Paul Williams, who wrote the lyric for "You and Me Against the World," telling me how much he enjoyed my parody of his song in the youtube video.
That's wonderful! And so is the video! ;D
-
Word to the wise: shovelling a long driveway for the first time in 30+ years can lead to severe back pain. Oy.
LONG, what long driveway! Keith said I should post a photo of our driveway, except we would need an aerial view.
An inexpensive snowblower would be great for you. I got the cheapest one Sears had in 2001 and I'm still using it
Thank you but I'll let Keith use the big heavy snow blower & pass. ;)
-
But now I need to get ready to head into midtown to run some errands, as well as attend today's taping of "The Late Show with David Letterman". -Mickey Rourke is the main guest, so it should be a pretty good and interesting show.
Laters...
I'll watch for you tonight!
I ended up sitting in the last seat in the last row on the audience left side of the theatre. Actually, a very good seat for sightlines. They did do a few audience pans tonight, so look for the bright red sweater in the back corner. -And it seemed like they taped a LOT of show today, so I'm curious to see what got edited out for tonight's broadcast. Normally, they try to run the show in real time, but we ran over by 15 minutes today.
-And, yes! Darlene Love... WOW! -And Annie Golden was sining back-up for her too!
According to the TV listing through my DVR, tonight's "David Letterman" is a repeat, although it does say that Mickey Rourke and Darlene Love are the guests. I did set my DVR to record it, though. :)
-
I must go upstairs and print more photos for my mom's Christmas present. I must also pack. From the forecast, I will pack more than I would have. I will have a good time, I will have a good time, I will have a good time.......
Actually, I probably will have a good time once I get there. I just get this wave of dread when I think about being there, but que sera sera.... I told mom I'll sing in the choir Christmas eve. They always need altos and the music is usually pretty easy... We do a run through and then go for it. It's not perfect, but I love the late service.
I really want to go this year. I want that singing Silent Night by candle light moment. Hope my parents want to go.
-
I typed in "what do do with fudge that didn't harden" and there were some interesting answers.
1.roll in balls and roll in cocoa and they are truffles.
2. reheat it on stove. and then put back in pan.
I wonder if you can really do this??
3. put in freezer.
You could also melt it and use it as a topping for ice cream. That sounds very good...to me. :D
-
Word to the wise: shovelling a long driveway for the first time in 30+ years can lead to severe back pain. Oy.
LONG, what long driveway! Keith said I should post a photo of our driveway, except we would need an aerial view.
An inexpensive snowblower would be great for you. I got the cheapest one Sears had in 2001 and I'm still using it
Thank you but I'll let Keith use the big heavy snow blower & pass. ;)
Nice to know he has a big heavy snow blower. I imagined him with a snow shovel digging out. Glad that isn't the case
-
Good Evening!
I had a WONDERFUL time at "The Late Show with David Letterman"!! David Letterman was in good form, Mickey Rourke was a good guest, Jay Thomas knocked the meatball off the top of the Christmas Tree with a football, and Darlene Love ROCKED the house!!!! -Truly put me in the Christmas Spirit!!!
:)
I am about to watch--Darlene Love and the meatball are Christmas traditions which I never miss.
Should we be looking for you? Did they do Stump the Band? Know Your Current Events?
-
Wonderful photos DR Dan (the Man)
-
Making toffee... that's all I'm sayin...
Yum!
-
Thank you DRs Cilla & TCB. We went to a movie and then out to dinner. Now Keith & Bryan are playing pool. I should go see if anyone else is playing. We put a candle on the last piece of wedding cake & turned it into a birthday cake for Bryan.
-
* * * * * Vibes for DR TCB's friend Stan * * * * *
-
My mother told me if I go to sing in the choir at church for the 11:00 PM Christmas Eve service I don't have to wear anything because I'll have a robe! I told her that may be a bit chilly
But you will definitely hit those high notes.
-
I'm getting very sleepy so I think I'll head downstairs to bed.
Good night!
-
DR TCB I am very sorry about Stan & wish you both good vibes!
-
Wow! DR Jose got to see Grinder Girl!
That meatball must have been glued to the Empire State Building this year.
-
Oh, gosh--it's Christmas Eve already!
-
Oh, gosh--it's Christmas Eve already!
That was a bit shocking to read since it is still Bryan's birthday here :)
-
DR Jane, you gave Bryan the last piece of Craig and Ioana's wedding cake? Aren't they suppose to save that for their 1st anniversary?
-
Dan (the Man) they already saved a piece of cake in our freezer, along with one of the flowers that topped the cake. If they don't come home for the holidays next year I'm not sure how we will get that piece of cake to them.
-
Oh, gosh--it's Christmas Eve already!
Some of us have 2+ hours to go, and need every minute!
-
;D
-
A Very Happy Birthday to DR Jane's DS Bryan!
-
The fudge problem made me think of this...
Margaret Jo McCullen: Hello. I'm Margaret Jo McCullen.
Teri Rialto: And I'm Teri Rialto.
Margaret Jo McCullen: And you're listening to..
Together: The Delicious Dish, on National Public Radio.
<SNIP>
This is HYSTERICAL! Thanks for posting it! ;D
-
TOTD:
The Story So Far - Stephen Sondheim.
How could I forget about THIS??
-
Thank you DR George.
Back to the family-'night
-
Tuna pasta salad is made, I've done some more cleaning and organizing and things are looking pretty good. Listening to CDs whilst doing all that.
-
On my second batch of toffee - this one with no nuts or no chocolate. Then I'm going to wrap gifts and watch either "Scrooge", "A Christmas Carol- The Musical" or "An All Dogs Christmas Carol" - still deciding
-
And those are just what I can remember. I have more CDs at work and will look through those, tomorrow. :)
Well, I didn't go to work, today. I took my cat to the vet. :( She'd had some problems with her claws last year and it's happening again. Also, she had one claw that is curving too much and poking the pad underneath it. She hasn't shown any problem with walking or jumping down from counters or her cat tree, but she has been licking her paws more than usual. So, I was able to get an appointment today. They trimmed all the nails (including the poking one) and they gave me some antibiotics and an anti-fungal lotion. So, too much money later, I'll be applying all the stuff for the next 21 days. Hopefully, THIS will make it all go away for good.
-
Anyway, I called work to let someone know that I was coming in later than I said I would and was told that they were closing the building early again, so it really wasn't worth it for me to go in, so I didn't.
-
Good Evening!
Merry Christmas Eve!!!!
:)
-
I'm watching "The Late Show with David Letterman" right now via the DVR, so...
And, yep, it took a while for Jay Thomas to knock that meatball off the tree, although, Dave did get the pizza this time. :)
*This was my sixth or seventh time attending a taping of "The Late Show", and it was probably the best "live" experience I've had in the Ed Sullivan Theater. Even his warm-up comic - who I usually don't find that funny - was actually funny tonight, and really helped to get everyone in the mood to laugh and clap, and and laugh and clap some more. Even the intern who did the audience warm-up in the Roseland Ballroom was great! And since it took a while to get Darlene Love's musicians and set-up set up, Paul Shaffer and The CBS Orchestra treated the audience to an extra long version of "Shout!".
-
The fudge problem made me think of this...
Margaret Jo McCullen: Hello. I'm Margaret Jo McCullen.
Teri Rialto: And I'm Teri Rialto.
Margaret Jo McCullen: And you're listening to..
Together: The Delicious Dish, on National Public Radio.
<SNIP>
This is HYSTERICAL! Thanks for posting it! ;D
Truly one of my favorite "SNL" sketches of all-time.
-
DR Dan (the Man) - Thank you for the tour of ChristmasVillageTown!
*I still remember the one year that my parents could not remember where they "hid" the Baby Jesus for the Nativity, so come late Christmas Eve... "Where's Jesus?" ;)
-
DR TCB - I'm sure some part of Stan knew you were there tonight, and appreciated your presence. ~~~~~
-
But now I need to get ready to head into midtown to run some errands, as well as attend today's taping of "The Late Show with David Letterman". -Mickey Rourke is the main guest, so it should be a pretty good and interesting show.
Laters...
I'll watch for you tonight!
I ended up sitting in the last seat in the last row on the audience left side of the theatre. Actually, a very good seat for sightlines. They did do a few audience pans tonight, so look for the bright red sweater in the back corner. -And it seemed like they taped a LOT of show today, so I'm curious to see what got edited out for tonight's broadcast. Normally, they try to run the show in real time, but we ran over by 15 minutes today.
-And, yes! Darlene Love... WOW! -And Annie Golden was sining back-up for her too!
According to the TV listing through my DVR, tonight's "David Letterman" is a repeat, although it does say that Mickey Rourke and Darlene Love are the guests. I did set my DVR to record it, though. :)
It wasn't a repeat. ;)
-
Good Evening!
I had a WONDERFUL time at "The Late Show with David Letterman"!! David Letterman was in good form, Mickey Rourke was a good guest, Jay Thomas knocked the meatball off the top of the Christmas Tree with a football, and Darlene Love ROCKED the house!!!! -Truly put me in the Christmas Spirit!!!
:)
I am about to watch--Darlene Love and the meatball are Christmas traditions which I never miss.
Should we be looking for you? Did they do Stump the Band? Know Your Current Events?
I'm still looking to see if I can see myself in the back row.
-
PAGE FIVE CORNBREAD DANCE!!!!!
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/3122492337_1f2e5ab962.jpg)
Is that cornbread and ice cream?
BUTTER!!!!!!!
-
OH!
And that cornbread - and butter! - is from Mert's Heart & Soul (http://www.mertsuptown.com/) in DR MattH's neck of the woods, Charlotte, NC.
-
Ok, I just got an email from a distant relative (Walla Walla is pretty distant from here) who without knowing anything about what I'm ranting about, reminded me about living every moment and the joy of life. She is so right about that.
So, I will try to just ignore all the crap and find the good moments in the next few days. I do enjoy being with my parents so I'll just tune out anything I don't want to listen to and let the holiday remind me how happy I am to live with 2 cats. :)
I've been very fortunate to have been reminded of the exact same thing over the past two days. In the larger scheme of things, those things truly are so small. Just like Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer set to music: You've got to Ac-cen-tu-ate the Positive!
-
And I did call my parents to tell them that I was not coming home for Christmas, and they were actually surprising supportive. They both said that even though they'd like to have me home, they wanted me to spend my money on things other than travel. -And I will be seeing them on Sunday anyway. :)
*And I'm glad I called my parents since it turned out my Mom was under the impression they were seeing "The Radio City Christmas Spectacular" on Monday. Um, no... The tickets are for Sunday night, since you'll be heading back Monday night. -I, then, of course, called my brother, Mike, to re-remind here that they're coming up Sunday morning. ;)
-
YEAH! I'm pretty sure that the audience member clapping(!) along with Darlene Love in the back corner is me! :)
-
And just in case anyone happened to miss the last "Great Moments in Presidential Speeches" earlier tonight...
CLICK HERE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwisQkmpqmQ) ;D
-
DR Dan (the Man) - How long has Christmasvillagetown been in existence? under construction? when was it founded? -And does Christmasvillagetown continue to grow from year to year?
-
...And, yes! Darlene Love... WOW! -And Annie Golden was sining back-up for her too!
Annie Golden was doing ASL for the hard-of-hearing? That's a talent I didn't know she had! Good for her!
Actually, I believe Annie Golden does know ASL. ;)
-
PAGE 12 DAVID LETTERMAN/ED SULLIVAN THEATRE/DR GINNY'S NYC DIGS DANCE!!!!
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/3132053739_bb7883f01a.jpg)
-
After taking my cat to the vet, I should've gone to work, today! Here's my very, very long story:
I decided to go to the local Dairy Queen for a bite to eat (I hadn't had anything to eat yet...and it was almost 2:00 pm!) and I got stuck right at the entrance to the parking lot!! :o I couldn't move forward or backward! I went into the DQ to ask for a phone book to call for a tow-truck but the guy behind the counter asked if I needed a push (and that's NOT a euphemism...sadly ;)) and he and one of the guys from the kitchen came out and tried to push the car. A guy just walking along came to help...then another guy. Nothing worked! Then, two guys in jeep with four-wheel-drive stopped to help and tried to drive around my car and their jeep got stuck! All the guys are trying to push the car and dig out some of the snow and I'm feeling very embarrassed about it all, but they were all very, very, very nice about it. The two guys from the jeep eventually got their jack and lifted the front end of their jeep and were able to get unstuck. By this time, ANOTHER guy came and tried to help. (If you're keeping count, I'm now surrounded by seven fairly attractive men and I'm just trying not to stare ;D) Anyway, the DQ guy from the kitchen says that he has a rope in his pick-up truck and he'll try to pull my car up into the parking lot (he couldn't think of this sooner?). The guys in the jeep say that they have a heavy chain and got that out. The DQ kitchen guy's truck wasn't strong enough to pull my car, but the seventh guy had a larger SUV and that worked! FINALLY!!! My car was free!! The whole car-removal incident took almost 45 minutes! I thanked all the guys profusely and frequently but before I could offer to buy anyone lunch or something, they all just took off. I was able to park (the rest of the parking lot was covered in compact snow and ice, but it was very easy to drive on and not get stuck again). I parked and went in to DQ because I still hadn't had anything to eat. I thanked the guy behind the counter yet again, had my lunch, thanked the guy AGAIN (mainly because he's pretty darned cute...much too young, but very cute) and left. I got out of the parking lot through the other exit without and problem and came home.
And I forgot to mention that right next to the DQ is a daycare center and the little kids were watching the whole thing. We all waved at them every once in a while and they applauded when my car was freed. :)
And that is my story about getting very stuck in the snow, today. I hope to NEVER experience that again.
-
Sedaris's "Naked " and "When You Are Engulfed in Flames" were recommendations by an Anglican Priest (Minister) who has been kind enough to pay some visits to my father over the past few months.
The visits are on my behalf - not the Church's.
And as DR PennyO mentioned, his audiobook versions are great listens too. -Especially when he breaks into his Billie Holiday impression - which is pretty spot-on!
Here's a link to his now classic Christmas "horror" story from his "Santaland Diaries" (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5066175).
-
DR George - :)
*And that sounds like it could be a set-up for a scene from one of DR elmore's VCR tapes. ;D
-
DR George - :)
*And that sounds like it could be a set-up for a scene from one of DR elmore's VCR tapes. ;D
I should be so lucky!
;)
-
I'm having a fudge emergency.
So I gather all my stuff to take to my niece's to make 2 kinds of fudge (she got bored after the first one). I think the maple one will be fine (it's hardening in the fridge).
But my white chocolate one is a disaster.
It won't harden. I just put in the freezer to see if that will help.
I wish i had more experience with fudge to know what to do.
I accidently did something wrong with one of the ingredients. It said to make 7 oz of marshmellow cream to put part of bag of marshmellows and 1/4 cup of milk. It made a really nice cream. But then i think i was supposed to measure 7 oz. Or i think that is what i should have done (although it did say to make 7 oz of marxhmellow cream do X). So i started pouring most of it in my fudge. ANd it was quite a few cups.
It's weird because the leftover "fudge" that i put in a bowl seemed to get much harder than the same stuff in the fridge.
Not sure what to do. :(
DR Jennifer - First of all, real fudge is not made from marshmallows. It may contain marshmallows, but it's not made with or from marshmallows. ;)
-Sorry, that was the food snob in me getting out. ;) -Have you ever tried the Velveeta Fudge? It's actually quite tasty. In any case...
If you did put that many marshmallows into the mixture, there's really no way it will harden since marshmallows are basically just whipped gelatin. The mixture may set up, but it won't harden. However, you could also try just heating it over very low heat for a while to see if it thickens up a bit, and then let it cool.
As for the "leftover fudge" - sometimes fast-cooling fudge-type mixtures can make them not set up. They have to cool slowly in order for the sugar and fat molecules "gel" properly.
-
DR Dan (the Man) - How long has Christmasvillagetown been in existence? under construction? when was it founded? -And does Christmasvillagetown continue to grow from year to year?
DR Jose, Christmasvillagetown has been around, in one form or another, ever since before I was born. The lionel trains were bought for my older sister the year she was born in 1946. My dad wasn't a complete train hobbiest, but over the years he bought different Plasticville buildings and created a nice display every year (I'll have to dig those pictures out sometime.)
And then I was born and, as I'm repeatedly told, I was the destroyer of worlds. I don't know what I did, but evidently it warrented my dad putting up a picket fence around the perimeter of the platform. But by then, a lot of the damage had been done.
But the tradition continued with the few buildings and houses that were intact. When I was eleven or twelve, my dad let me put up "the platform" (which is what my family pretty much always called the display) by myself. I've been doing it ever since, even coming home to do it when I moved away. Now that I'm minding my mom's house, I'm still doing it. It's a tradition that I love and cherish.
-
DR George--what a nightmare! But at least you had some hunky help, which never hurts.
-
They were told if they hadn't gone back to look in the car, the woman would almost certainly died as well. So, it's pretty miraculous for her that they decided to clean out their car at 1:00 AM
WOW! That's quite a story!
-
Unless something happens to top it in the next eight days, the highlight of 2008 for me is getting a lovely email from Paul Williams, who wrote the lyric for "You and Me Against the World," telling me how much he enjoyed my parody of his song in the youtube video.
:) :) :)
-
DP has discovered Facebook - I'll never see him again. At least I can chat with him when he's on, even if he is sitting next to me!
Ah, the Joys of CrackBook!
-
I've been making my gift labels on Avery.com. I usually write out my gift tags, but this year I have so many to write out that I just bought a pack of Avery labels and used the on-line print and design pages to make them. They are not exactly aesthetically pleasing, but they were fun to make and they will be a snap to slap on the packages.
And now to bed...
-
I've finished with my viewing for the evening and feel very ahead of the game, Do-wise.
-
Most of our grocery stores have had self-checkout lanes for several years. But this is new:
The "Scan-IT" system. As you enter the store, you scan your discount card at a little kiosk and pick up a small hand-held scanner and some bags. As you shop, you scan each item as you put it into your bags. Then, at the checkout, you scan your card again, return the scanner, and pay - your order is already totaled.
Interesting, and if everyone adapts to it, a real time-saver at the checkout line!!!
Upper management has foisted this on our store. It's not as great an idea as it seems.
It actually takes longer for the customer to locate the bar code on the item being purchased, scan them one at a time, bag them, and then proceed to where the next item they want to purchase is located in the store, as opposed to having a cashier do most of this work. This is a simple case of efficiency in performing a task - the cashier is capable of scanning the items quickly, because it's what they do as a job. At our store, we also do the bagging for the customer, something we can do very quickly because we are both practiced at the job, and because the bags are held up on a frame, rather than loose and unsupported in the cart. These uninteresting things are what we do for a living. The customer should only have to do the fun part - the shopping.
It's interesting that they're testing these new systems in "slower" markets. I remember when Ukrop's started testing the Self-Checkout lanes in their stores in Richmond - which is a "slow" town - they were a bit surprised at how many people preferred to have a real live person - a cashier - ring up their groceries for them - even when it meant standing in a longer line. Ukrop's built their reputation on excellent, personal customer service, so why were they taking one of the "people" out of the equation? I know in the location that I frequented, they had originally planned to have six self-checkout lanes, but that got cut back to four.
*Heck, there were times when I just had one or two items, but wanted to say Hello to one of my favorite cashiers during my visit.
**And I'm also one of those customers who tends to help out other shoppers in the self-checkout and self-bag lanes. :)
-
I'm back from Gelson's and how have everything I need for the Do, and thank goodness I don't have to leave the house at all tomorrow. The driving by idiots this Christmas season is at an all-time low, with people acting like they've never been behind the wheel of a car. It's really shocking sometimes.
*Of course, now all I have in my mind's eye is a vision of being one of the people driving behind bk... observing the coat caught in the door... the left tail light constantly blinking... and wishing he was driving faster than 18mph. ;)
-
DR George--what a nightmare! But at least you had some hunky help, which never hurts.
No, it doesn't. :D
-
Dan (the Man), I loved the Christmasvillagetown pictures. ;D
-
And as for the Topic of Yesterday... At least I think it was yesterday....
Bests:
"Slumdog Millionaire"
"Milk"
"Wall-E"
"Frost/Nixon"
"Un Conte de Noel"
"The Reader"
"Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day"
"Doubt" (even though I'm not raving about it like everyone else seems to be doing)
"The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" - even though it had to be the most depressing, heart-crushing movie I've ever seen
"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" - Yes, it could have been cut down by about 15 minutes, but I enjoyed it.
"Vicky Cristina Barcelona" - It was great to see Woody Allen making a Woody Allen film again.
"Man On Wire" - A great documentary about one man's dream, as well as a "quiet" tribute to the World Trade Center Twin Towers.
Worsts:
1408 - Oh, nevermind, that came out in 2007, but I guess it stuck with me. ;)
"The Happening" - It was so bad, that I'm not even tempted to watch it on DVD just to confirm how much is sucked.
Disappointment:
"Quantum of Solace" - A good Bond movie, but even though it seemed to be harkening back to the classic Bond formulas, there was something too slick and too brooding to make it a truly great movie.
-
As for Today's Topic of the Day...
Debussy: Completes Works for Piano, Vols. 2, 3 and 4 - Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, pianist. (Volume 1 was released last summer) - Truly my favorite Debussy cycle on disc, and I never thought anyone could beat out the classic Walter Gieseking recordings.
"The Berlin Concert" - Simone Dinnerstein, pianist - A great follow-up to her "Goldberg Variations".
"Revolutionary" - Cameron Carpenter, organ (yes, organ!) - Truly something that has to be heard to be believed. Even his foot-pedal work is jaw-dropping.
"Holly Cole" - Holly Cole
"Hope for the Hopeless" - Brent Dennen
"The Way I See It" - Raphael Saadiq
In the Heights - OCR
South Pacific - Lincoln Center Revival OCR
Gypsy - LuPone Revival OCR
"Evening Primrose" - Original Soundtrack
"When the Wind Blows South" - Philip Chaffin's latest CD, quite lovely.
-
OK - I really should get to bed. I think I'm going to spend a good chunk of my day back at MoMA - get one last(?) viewing in of the Van Gogh before it closes next weekend.
Goodnight.
-
And as for the Topic of Yesterday... At least I think it was yesterday....
Bests:
"Slumdog Millionaire"
"Milk"
"Wall-E"
"Frost/Nixon"
"Un Conte de Noel"
"The Reader"
"Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day"
"Doubt" (even though I'm not raving about it like everyone else seems to be doing)
"The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" - even though it had to be the most depressing, heart-crushing movie I've ever seen
"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" - Yes, it could have been cut down by about 15 minutes, but I enjoyed it.
"Vicky Cristina Barcelona" - It was great to see Woody Allen making a Woody Allen film again.
"Man On Wire" - A great documentary about one man's dream, as well as a "quiet" tribute to the World Trade Center Twin Towers.
Worsts:
1408 - Oh, nevermind, that came out in 2007, but I guess it stuck with me. ;)
"The Happening" - It was so bad, that I'm not even tempted to watch it on DVD just to confirm how much is sucked.
Disappointment:
"Quantum of Solace" - A good Bond movie, but even though it seemed to be harkening back to the classic Bond formulas, there was something too slick and too brooding to make it a truly great movie.
Actually, I don't think we've done films yet, have we?